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A few months after giving a verbal pledge to Texas, Hamilton High School (Chandler, Ariz.) senior Ian Pickles has flipped his commitment to USC for this upcoming fall.
The switch means that Pickles will continue to swim with his twin brother, Evan Pickles — also a current senior at Hamilton High and Trojans commit — for the foreseeable future.
At Winter Juniors West in December, the freestyle specialist clocked personal-best times in the 50 free (20.33), 100 free (44.06), and 200 free (1:36.36) as he placed 15th, 12th, and 6th in the respective finals. A month earlier, Pickles capped his high school career with an AIA Division I state title in the 100 free (45.45), bouncing back from a broken ankle the year prior.
During long course season, the Swim Neptune standout clocked lifetime bests in all six freestyle distances and finished with Summer Juniors cuts in the 50/100/200 (23.61/51.89/1:54.21).
Pickles was slated to be the third-best freestyler in his class at Texas behind top-five recruits Will Modglin and Nate Germonprez. Now he’s set to be the best 200 freestyler in his class at USC and the Trojans’ second-best freshman sprinter behind Diggory Dillingham (19.52/43.47).
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 20.33
- 100 free – 44.06
- 200 free – 1:36.36
Pickles joins his twin brother, Evan, Dillingham, Salvador Goya, Jack Moloney, and Keller Morgan in USC’s recruiting class anticipated to graduate in 2027. In Lea Maurer’s first year as head coach, the Trojans placed fifth at the Pac-12 Championships last month behind Arizona, Stanford, Cal, and Arizona State. Their highest finisher in the 200 free was junior Max Saunders, who placed 14th with a 1:34.51.
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Apparently USC’s new recruiting strategy is to flip recruits that have fast siblings. Its not the first one they have tried.
Really hope they have a brother named Tommy
Saunders was a senior, not a junior. The Trojan men are losing far more than they’re gaining next fall. Best of luck to Ian, perhaps he can help hoist the Trojans up from their downfall but it will be a lofty task. Things seem to only get worse in south Los Angeles and he seems to be the only bright spot. Isn’t Dillingham taking a gap year?
“Proof that the culture at texas is plummeting. When will swimswam investigate and tell us the truth?” – some anonymous swimswam commenter, probably
old news lol
Well look at you mr. News aficionado…. Brahhhhhvvvvvvoooooo
From the White House to the out house.
Totally respect his choice but this still made me laugh.
So he changed his commitment from a powerhouse to a team that’s fallen off? Maybe he wants to be the big fish in the little pond instead of the little fish in the big pond.
Probably just to be with his brother.
The choice was a bit of a pickle.
Or he has inside information as to who will be the next coach at USC.